Weather to turn rainy, cooler Friday; wet weekend in forecast

Taipei, April 21 (CNA) The weather in Taiwan will turn rainy and cooler starting on Friday afternoon as a new front arrives and northeasterly winds strengthen, the Central Weather Bureau (CWB) said.

With the rain brought by the front spreading gradually from north to south, the chance of rain will increase accordingly, reaching 90 percent in northern areas and 70 percent in the rest of Taiwan by late Friday, the bureau said.

There will be heavy downpours in parts of western and northeastern Taiwan, with thunder likely in some areas, the bureau said.

The rain is not expected to ease until next Tuesday, according to the CWB.

However, the chance of rain will increase again over the following two days, when another front is expected to affect Taiwan, the bureau said.

In terms of temperature, daytime highs on Friday are forecast at 27-28 degrees Celsius in northern Taiwan, Yilan and Hualien, and 29-31 degrees in central and southern areas as well as Taitung, the CWB said.

As northeasterly winds strengthen in the afternoon, temperatures will begin to drop, especially in northern Taiwan, where a low of 20 degrees is expected by late Friday, the bureau said.